Delivery of Early Intervention through the Transdisciplinary Approach - Essay Example

Delivery of Early Intervention through the Transdisciplinary Approach Insert Name Course, Class, Semester Institution Instructor Date Delivery of Early Intervention through the Transdisciplinary Approach Introduction Early childhood intervention services refer to the efforts, by both professionals and parents of children that indicate chances of being handicapped, to help the children overcome the developmental delays at an appropriate stage (Smith 2007). The early intervention services are usually offered to children between the time of birth and the tender age of three years. Psychologists say that such intervention efforts are most effective during the pre-school age bracket. According to psychiatrist experts, it is at this age that the capacity of a child to learn and unlearn things is optimal. Children experts have argued that remedying the situation past the pre-school age can be costly and less effective. The early childhood development intervention services can either be remedial or preventive. The specialists in the field of child development argue that the preventive measures are better than the remedial measure since remedial efforts may not achieve absolute success. Arguably, the transdisciplinary approach is the most effective way of going about the problem. This paper seeks to explain how and why employing the transdisciplinary approach is the best way of going about the condition of delayed development in children. In regards to Smith (2007).Transdisciplinary is a technique of handling delayed development in children or any sign of being handicapped, which entails the use of knowledge and expertise from various relevant fields. It is worth noting that such an approach employs the services of all those professions dealing with human development .The experts work together and handle the special child simultaneously. The most common disciplined concerned with handling this condition in children are psychology, psychiatry, physiotherapy, language pathology, social workers, psychiatry nursing and support workers. The psychologist and the psychiatrist are mostly concerned with the assessment of the child with an aim of determining whether or not such a child is legible for the early childhood intervention. They are as well concerned with the analysis of such things as developmental evaluation. This entails the analysis of the cognitive skills of the infant. Such assessments are referred to as multidisciplinary evaluations. The transdisciplinary evaluations are concerned with establishing the child’s strengths, weaknesses, possibilities of delayed development as well personal difficulties in going about communication and physical movements. After establishing all the above the professionals can establish whether or not the special child is legible for early intervention services. The transdisciplinary approach enhances the delivery of early childhood intervention since it provides adequate and precise information required for diagnosing the aright remedy. The transdisciplinary approach a well offers such therapy in the most efficient manner since such approach reduces confusion through ensuring all the experts contribute to eliminating all possible inconsistencies. It is worth noting that the transdisciplinary approach enables the professionals to work with very young children. Such children have needs that are not easily understood except with the help of such professional know how as that of a psychiatrist and a psychologist. The employment of the multidisciplinary approach ensures that the various professions complement one another in achieving the best possible results. For instance, it would be grossly inappropriate for a psychologist to carry out early intervention on their own since they may not understand all the unique needs of the infant Naini, Majid M & Naini, Joan F. (2010). Some delayed developmental needs include such inefficiencies as inability to walk or use limbs. Here, the psychologists will have very little to do. They would therefore call for the services of a physiotherapist. Perhaps the best way to understand the effectiveness of the transdisciplinary approach is evaluating the individual elements or key features of the approach. The most notable feature of the transdisciplinary approach is consultation. Consultation refers to the process of one professional requiring his counterpart to clarify a particular condition or explain a certain technicality (Haring, 2010). This element eliminates all doubt from the process of going about the delivery of early childhood intervention. Consultation is the rationale behind the transdisciplinary approach. The professionals cater for the inefficiencies of one another. Such consultation involves the parent or relative of the child who explains. As such the transdisciplinary approach creates trust between the professionals and the family. Another important element that explains the effectiveness of the transdisciplinary approach is teamwork (O'donoghue, Brian etal, 2012).The transdisciplinary approach works on the premise of team spirit. The professionals do not compete but rather aid one another in making sure that nothing goes haywire .Teamwork is based upon cooperation and coordination of efforts. Teamwork is also referred to as collaboration. This entails the sharing of duties and responsibilities across the borders of the various social sciences. Related to the aspect of teamwork is the element of interdependence. He professionals rely on the expertise of one another in answering various questions relating to the particular case under review. Interdependence is vital since, as stated earlier, no one professional can solve the riddle of delayed development and handicapped conditions especially in children below the age of two years. A child within this age bracket cannot communicate effectively without the assistance of a professional such as a language pathologist or a psychiatrist. One of the most important elements of transdisciplinary approach is the aspect of arena assessment. This is a type of evaluation that entails the combined efforts of the various specialists assessing the infant simultaneously. The specialists apply their expertise in consultation with their counterparts. The arena assessment is a comprehensive process whose results indicate the clear problem in the infant .This is usually the first step of the transdisciplinary approach. It gives the team of specialists the way forward. It indicates the starting point of the comprehensive therapy. Arena assessment ensures that all problems are addressed since all the necessary skills are assessed. The evaluation covers the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, communication adaptive as well as adaptive skills. These skills are assessed by the various specialists according to qualification and proficiency. According to Sylvester, L., & Shelden, M. (1993). Another key aspect of transdisciplinary approaches is an intensive constant interaction between the specialists and the family. These relations as well exist among the specialists. Such interactions enable the specialists to come up with the most effective relevant solutions to the prevailing problems .Additionally, the interactions help the professionals gain a wealth of knowledge and enable them to work more efficiently (Verma et al, 2012). Such interactions are associated with continuous learning for the child, the parents and the specialists. After the learning process comes the element of role release. This aspect is concerned with the actual delivery of the service. The delivery takes the form of professional application of knowledge where one of the specialists acts as the director of the operation and leads the team in providing the require therapy to the special child. Role release is concerned with the sharing of special skills across the disciplines. Among the key benefits of the transdisciplinary approach is the fact that it creates cost effectiveness. This is to say that the process of early intervention will be cheaper if it employs many specialists from various disciplines simultaneously. Working together on the same child makes the process affordable than paying a single specialist to attend to the child at a time Hoi Yin Bonnie Yim & Ebbeck, Marjory. (2012). It is a matter of common knowledge that using one specialist at a time will attract more costs and expenses such as further reffferals and consultancy services. This can be illustrated by the following analogy. Assume there is an infant with delayed development. Such an infant could be showing indications of physically handicapped. At the same time, the infant could be showing signs of difficulty in speech. Further assume that the child is suffering psychotic problems. On the assumption that the parents seek the services of a psychologist, the costs involved will be very high since the psychologist will have to refer the parents to a physiotherapist and a psychiatrist because he has no knowledge of dealing with all these problems. On the contrary having the specialist work on the child as a team will make the process more affordable and effective. According to Naini, Majid M & Naini, Joan F. (2010). Another benefit of the transdisciplinary approach is the fact that it causes less intrusion into the affairs of the family. This is to say that with all the relevant specialists around, the number of consultations between the family and the specialists will be fewer since the experts will use their complementary efforts to answer the various challenges concerning the case .The extent of communication and interviews between the parents and other family members and the experts will reduce since the team possesses a rich range of knowledge. Additionally, transdisciplinary approaches reduce confusion among the family members of the affected child. This can be illustrated by the fact that, in case a child develops a complication, the parents know which specialist to contact. Where the child’s parents do not know the duties and responsibilities of the particular specialists, they may end up seeking the services of the wrong professional. This will attract extra referral costs and expenses on the part of the parents. Among the challenges associated with the transdisciplinary approach are such issues as loss of professional identity .This is what puts off most of the professionals from the multidisciplinary approaches (Kampwirth, T. J. 1999). Since they work together and share knowledge, they tend to lose their affiliation to their particular professions. As such, most of them are never willing to participate in multidisciplinary therapeutic procedures. Another challenge is the problem of inadequate sharing of information. The specialist may feel threatened if they share too much information with their counterparts as this may make them less competitive. Conclusion In conclusion, it is worth noting that transdisciplanry approaches are the most effective approaches to achieving an effective early childhood intervention program. This can be explained by the fact that the approach is a comprehensive technique touching on every aspect of human development. It is as well noteworthy that the transdisciplinary approach is most effective at the earliest stages of development. The transdisciplinary approach may serve perfectly well in reducing the amount of tension and depression among the parents and family members of the affected infant. This is because the transdisciplinary team includes counselors that help the parents, who may otherwise develop suicidal thoughts, to accept the situation and condition of the child. References Haring, Kathryn & Lovett, (2010). David. Early Intervention and Early Childhood Services for Families in Rural Settings. Rural Special Education Quarterly. 29(4). P16-23. Hoi Yin Bonnie Yim & Ebbeck, Marjory. (2012). Early Childhood Teachers' Professional Development in Music: A Cross-Cultural Study. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. 36(3) P74-81. Naini, Majid M & Naini, Joan F. (2010). The Effect Of Vibrational Frequencies On Humans And The Universe: A Transdisciplinary Approach Related To Superstring Theory. Journal of Integrated Design & Process Science. 14(4). P25-37. O'donoghue, Brian., Lyne, John., Renwick, Laoise., Madigan, Kevin., Kinsella, Anthony., Clarke, Mary., Turner, Niall & O'callaghan, Eadbhard. (2012). A Descriptive Study of 'Non-Cases' and Referral Rates to an Early Intervention for Psychosis Service. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 6(3) P276-282. 2012 Smith, Peter M. (2007). A Transdisciplinary Approach To Research On Work And Health: What Is It, What Could It Contribute, And What Are The Challenges? Critical Public Health. 17(2), P159-169. Verma, S. (2012). Evolution Of Early Psychosis Intervention Services In Singapore. East Asian Archives of Psychiatry. 22(3), P114-117. Kampwirth, T. J. (1999). Collaborative consultation in the schools: effective practices for students with learning and behavior problems. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merrill Sylvester, L., & Shelden, M. (1993). A Transdisciplinary Training Program for Providing Seating Positioning and Mobility Intervention to Children with Developmental Disabilities Who Are 0-3 Years of Age. Washington, D.C.: Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse. Read More

Perhaps the best way to understand the effectiveness of the transdisciplinary approach is evaluating the individual elements or key features of the approach. The most notable feature of the transdisciplinary approach is consultation. Consultation refers to the process of one professional requiring his counterpart to clarify a particular condition or explain a certain technicality (Haring, 2010). This element eliminates all doubt from the process of going about the delivery of early childhood intervention.

Consultation is the rationale behind the transdisciplinary approach. The professionals cater for the inefficiencies of one another. Such consultation involves the parent or relative of the child who explains. As such the transdisciplinary approach creates trust between the professionals and the family. Another important element that explains the effectiveness of the transdisciplinary approach is teamwork (O'donoghue, Brian etal, 2012).The transdisciplinary approach works on the premise of team spirit.

The professionals do not compete but rather aid one another in making sure that nothing goes haywire .Teamwork is based upon cooperation and coordination of efforts. Teamwork is also referred to as collaboration. This entails the sharing of duties and responsibilities across the borders of the various social sciences. Related to the aspect of teamwork is the element of interdependence. He professionals rely on the expertise of one another in answering various questions relating to the particular case under review.

Interdependence is vital since, as stated earlier, no one professional can solve the riddle of delayed development and handicapped conditions especially in children below the age of two years. A child within this age bracket cannot communicate effectively without the assistance of a professional such as a language pathologist or a psychiatrist. One of the most important elements of transdisciplinary approach is the aspect of arena assessment. This is a type of evaluation that entails the combined efforts of the various specialists assessing the infant simultaneously.

The specialists apply their expertise in consultation with their counterparts. The arena assessment is a comprehensive process whose results indicate the clear problem in the infant .This is usually the first step of the transdisciplinary approach. It gives the team of specialists the way forward. It indicates the starting point of the comprehensive therapy. Arena assessment ensures that all problems are addressed since all the necessary skills are assessed. The evaluation covers the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, communication adaptive as well as adaptive skills.

These skills are assessed by the various specialists according to qualification and proficiency. According to Sylvester, L., & Shelden, M. (1993). Another key aspect of transdisciplinary approaches is an intensive constant interaction between the specialists and the family. These relations as well exist among the specialists. Such interactions enable the specialists to come up with the most effective relevant solutions to the prevailing problems .Additionally, the interactions help the professionals gain a wealth of knowledge and enable them to work more efficiently (Verma et al, 2012).

Such interactions are associated with continuous learning for the child, the parents and the specialists. After the learning process comes the element of role release. This aspect is concerned with the actual delivery of the service. The delivery takes the form of professional application of knowledge where one of the specialists acts as the director of the operation and leads the team in providing the require therapy to the special child. Role release is concerned with the sharing of special skills across the disciplines.

Among the key benefits of the transdisciplinary approach is the fact that it creates cost effectiveness. This is to say that the process of early intervention will be cheaper if it employs many specialists from various disciplines simultaneously.

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